SALEM-I just ran into Allen Alley on the State Capitol steps, where several conservative groups are preparing for a noontime taxpayer rights' rally.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate, who has been known as more of a centrist since he once worked for Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski, is not shy about looking for votes among the Tea Party crowd.

"I've been reaching out to all of the folks - AFP [Americans for Prosperity], the 9/12 Project, the Tea Party people, the people concerned about taxes and the growth of government," said Alley.

It makes sense for Alley, a high-tech entrepreneur, to promote himself as a rock-ribbed fiscal conservative. Since Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point, dropped out of the race, there's been no GOP candidate with deep ties to the conservative base of the party.

Russ Walker, who heads the Oregon chapter of FreedomWorks and is vice president of the Oregon GOP, said Alley has had some problems with conservatives because of his ties with Kulongoski. But he said Alley has good fiscal credentials. "And every time I go to a Tea Party, Allen is there," Walker added.

Walker said that former NBA player Chris Dudley, the top fundraiser among the GOP gubernatorial candidates, couldn't make Monday's rally. But he said that in addition to Alley, he also expected an appearance from another GOP gubernatorial hopeful, former state legislator John Lim of Gresham.

SIDE NOTE: Organizers of Monday's taxpayer rally thought they would focus their event on opposing legislation aimed at diverting the "kicker" tax rebates into a rainy-day fund. But since that bill died last week, it's morphed into a general call for slimming down government.